Managing environmental diversity in the eastern foothills of the Andes: pre-Columbian agrarian landscapes in the El Alto-Ancasti mountain range

In the surrounding area beyond the hill where rock shelters are concentrated, a cultural landscape has been identified that closely resembles that of the highland grasslands, characterized by the integration of domestic compounds, agricultural terraces, and a distinct form of rock art.

“In the surrounding area, a cultural landscape has been identified that closely resembles that of the highland grasslands, characterized by the integration of domestic compounds, agricultural terraces, and a distinct form of rock art”

Terraced agricultural practices have largely been abandoned-or are only sporadically utilized-in the semiarid mid-altitude valleys and the montane forests of the eastern slopes.

“such practices have largely been abandoned-or are only sporadically utilized-in the semiarid mid-altitude valleys and the montane forests of the eastern slopes (Nagel, 2022;Nagel et al., 2023;Zuccarelli Freire et al., 2022).”

In loessic esplanade systems and along stream corridors, the availability of capillary water fluctuates across seasonal and multi-annual climatic cycles.

“In loessic esplanade systems and along stream corridors, the availability of capillary water fluctuates across seasonal and multi-annual climatic cycles (Zuccarelli Freire et al., 2022).”

In the forested terraces specifically, evidence of controlled burning was indicated by the presence of thermoaltered phytoliths, including burnt arboreal and grass taxa, melted phytoliths, and varying concentrations of microcharcoal particles in the sediments.

“In the forested terraces specifically, evidence of controlled burning was indicated by the presence of thermoaltered phytoliths, including burnt arboreal and grass taxa, melted phytoliths, and varying concentrations of microcharcoal particles in the sediments (Zuccarelli Freire et al., 2022).”

Phytolith analyses revealed a diversity of cultivated crops on these terraces, including maize (Zea mays), cucurbits, legumes (Fabaceae), Cannaceae, and possibly subtropical rhizomes or tubers such as yacón or cassava.

“Phytolith analyses revealed a diversity of cultivated crops on these terraces, including maize (Zea mays), cucurbits, legumes (Fabaceae), Cannaceae, and possibly subtropical rhizomes or tubers such as yacón or cassava.”

These crops were identified in both the highland grassland and montane forest sectors of the mountain range.

“These crops were identified in both the highland grassland and montane forest sectors of the mountain range (Zuccarelli Freire et al., 2022).”